Cocoyasi Village, Arlong Park.At the moment, Arlong was giving his crew some orders.
"Nezumi called the other day," Arlong said casually as he lounged in his oversized chair, "told us to lay low for a while. Sounds like the Marines are cracking down on pirates across the East Blue."
Most of Arlong's crew were fish-men who had come with him from Fish-Man Island.There was, however, one exception—Nami.
She was the only human in the Arlong Pirates. Years ago, when Arlong conquered this village, he had taken notice of Nami's navigational talent and her cartographic skills. Wanting to use her abilities to chart a course for fish-men domination, he had forced her into their "crew." In exchange, he'd made a deal—raise 100 million Berries, and she could buy back her freedom and the village's.
Despite her hatred for Arlong and the murder of her adoptive mother, Nami had no choice but to comply—for the sake of her village.
Arlong wasn't stupid—he had no intention of going to war with the Marines head-on, so he ordered his men to keep their heads down and stop raiding for the time being.
"But just because we're not raiding," he added with a toothy grin, "doesn't mean we can't do other things. Nami—word is, a crew called the Buggy Pirates has a map of the Grand Line. Their captain also supposedly has a stash of treasure. Go find them. Get the map. The treasure… might just hit that 100 million mark."
Nami's face was expressionless, but her heart burned with hatred. "Understood," she said coldly. "I'll set out in a few days."
In the original timeline, it was this errand that led Nami to meet the Straw Hats and eventually join them. But this time, something else was coming.
After assigning Nami her task, Arlong turned to his subordinates. "Since we're not raiding, raise the toll. Every merchant ship that docks here pays 100,000 Berries. Standard 'protection fee.'"
"Yes, boss!" his men cheered.
Just then, a young fish-man rushed in from outside. "Boss! Merchant ship's pulling in!"
Perfect timing.
"Kuroobi," Arlong called lazily. "Go give them our warm welcome. Anyone who refuses to pay… kill them."
Kuroobi, a combat specialist trained in Fish-Man Karate, grinned menacingly. "Got it."
Meanwhile, Bane and Zoro had just stepped off the merchant ship. A few fish-man grunts were already shaking down the crew. Judging by how smoothly the ship captain handed over his toll, it was clear this wasn't his first time here.
Arlong's pirates had been operating openly for years. Local merchants clearly knew the drill.
"Those are fish-men?" Zoro asked, eyeing them curiously.
"Yep," Bane replied. "Ten times stronger than normal humans, especially in water. Honestly, with power like that, I don't get why they're struggling in a world made of oceans."
He wasn't wrong.Fish-Men had the perfect biology for dominance at sea—immense strength, a fortified underwater home deep beneath the ocean, and bloodlines tied to Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons said to be able to destroy the world. And yet… they were treated like second-class citizens, ruled by fear and self-doubt.
It made no sense.
As they continued walking, a group of fish-men came to intercept them—Kuroobi at the lead.
Bane immediately recognized him. He couldn't recall the guy's name, but he definitely remembered him as one of Arlong's officers.
"You filthy humans," Kuroobi spat, pointing directly at Zoro. "New rule—everyone pays protection money. You're no exception."
Zoro: ...???
This guy had a death wish, clearly.
His hand twitched toward his sword, but rather than acting, Zoro glanced toward Bane—waiting for his lead.
Only to find that Bane had already summoned a massive hand cannon, its barrel practically the size of a human head, materialized from swirling darkness in his palm.
Kuroobi's eyes widened. "Wha—?!"
Too late.
BOOM!
The cannon let out a deafening blast. The massive shell tore through Kuroobi at point-blank range—obliterating his upper body. What was left of him flew backward, crashing through crates and into the dirt. Blood splattered in all directions. His lower half landed a few feet away, twitching.
The cannon—an Imperial Officer-Issue Model Bane had purchased back in his original world after selling his old house—did not disappoint.
Even a typical fish-man, sturdy enough to tank cannonballs from Marine warships, stood no chance at such close range.
Zoro stared at the carnage, visibly stunned.
Bane turned to him, raising a brow. "What? Don't tell me you were planning on talking to them?"
Zoro swallowed hard. He'd intended to cut the guy down himself, but Bane's solution was just… efficient. And brutal.
"…Nope. Not at all."
"Then let's get to work," Bane said, patting Zoro on the shoulder. "Wipe them out. Every last one's a pirate."
Zoro didn't need to be told twice. His blades flashed from his hip. Two steps forward, two swings later—two fish-man grunts were dead on the spot.
The cannon blast, however, had been loud—too loud.
Back in Arlong Park, Arlong jumped from his seat. "What the hell was that?!"
The rest of his officers looked equally alarmed.Only Nami showed a flicker of something else—hope. She had read the papers. Word was the Marines were finally cracking down on corruption. Could this be it? Could Arlong's reign be ending?
Just then, the gates burst open.
A frantic fish-man stumbled inside. "Boss! Trouble! Two humans at the port—they killed Kuroobi! They're headed this way!"
"WHAT?!" Arlong roared, eyes bulging in fury.
He loved his kind as much as he hated humans. And now, two humans had dared to kill one of his own?
He would skin them alive!
But before he could storm out, the doors slammed open once more.
Bane and Zoro entered like a pair of walking disasters.Zoro wiped his blades clean. Bane walked in casually, grinning like a devil.
"Good afternoon," Bane announced cheerfully. "I heard there's a beautiful and talented navigator here, and I'm here to offer her a spot in a much better crew—I mean, team."
His eyes locked with Arlong's. That wicked grin stretched even wider.
"Oh—and I'll be requisitioning your ship too."